Morocco to Host Major Automotive Industry Event in Kenitra

Fez – Morocco will host the eighth edition of the International Automotive Industrial Competitiveness Show (SCIA 2026) from June 24 to 26 in Kenitra, as it continues to strengthen its position as a regional automotive hub.

The event is organized by the Moroccan Association for the Automotive Industry and Construction in partnership with the Ministry of Industry and Trade and the Moroccan Agency for Investment and Export Development. 

Around 300 international exhibitors are expected to take part, highlighting growing global interest in Morocco’s automotive sector.

The choice of Kenitra reflects its growing role as a major industrial center. 

The city has become a key part of Morocco’s automotive ecosystem, supporting the country’s ambition to position itself as a leading manufacturing hub in the region.

SCIA’s President Badr Lahmoudi said this edition marks a clear shift in the sector’s approach. 

He explained that the industry is moving beyond a subcontracting model toward one based on competitiveness, with a focus on innovation, energy efficiency, and higher added value.

He added that Morocco has established itself as a leading industrial hub, noting that the event aims to strengthen industrial ecosystems, build stronger partnerships between stakeholders, and attract more investment into the sector.

For his part, Rachid Machou said the event aims to provide a platform that supports industrial competitiveness and reinforces partnerships across the value chain. 

He stressed the importance of developing local subcontracting, increasing the integration of suppliers at different levels, and promoting technology transfer and expertise sharing.

The event will also include business-to-business meetings between manufacturers and suppliers, creating new opportunities for investment and cooperation. 

It is expected to boost the attractiveness of industrial zones, especially the Atlantic Free Zone, which plays a central role in Morocco’s export-driven industry.

SCIA 2026 is part of a broader national effort led by King Mohammed VI to build a competitive, innovative, and high-value industrial base. 

The initiative focuses on strengthening local integration and increasing the country’s attractiveness to industrial investors.

The event also aligns with Morocco’s New Development Model, which places industry at the center of economic transformation and job creation, while supporting national economic sovereignty.

The program will include business meetings, specialized conferences, presentations of industrial innovations, and discussions bringing together key players in the sector.

Participants also highlighted major changes in the global automotive industry, including the shift toward sustainable mobility, the growth of electric vehicles, and the increasing use of artificial intelligence in industrial processes.

With strong international participation expected, including companies from Morocco, France, Italy, and Germany, organizers aim to position SCIA as a leading platform for Africa’s automotive industry, in line with global trends and focused on innovation and industrial integration.